A Brisbane parish based in Banyo has introduced a new national Christian art competition, offering the country’s largest prize for student artists.
National Art Prize Rooted in Banyo Parish
A newly launched national art prize led by the Banyo-Nundah parish is attracting attention across Australia for its focus on Christian themes and for offering a record prize in the student category.
Background and Origins of the Initiative
The Australian Christian Art Prize was developed by the Banyo-Nundah parish as a means of financial support ahead of its centenary celebrations in 2026. One major aim is the restoration of church artworks. Parish organisers also emphasised the broader role of engaging the community through creative expressions of faith.
The initiative is endorsed by Brisbane’s Archbishop Mark Coleridge, who noted the historical connection between religious themes and the visual arts. The prize reflects the parish’s intent to contribute to public discussion through art without overtly imposing beliefs.
Photo Credit: Pexels
Prize Structure and Entry Details
The competition includes two categories: a $10,000 open prize and a $5,000 student prize, the latter recognised as the largest of its kind for senior secondary students in Australia. All works must explore Christian themes, such as Biblical scenes, the lives of saints, Christian spirituality, or interpretations of God’s creation.
Eligible mediums include painting, drawing, digital works, sculpture, and installations. Artificial intelligence-generated entries and giclée reproductions are explicitly ineligible. All artworks must be original and not previously exhibited post-2025.
Artists may submit multiple entries, with a $55 fee per entry in the open category and $25 for senior secondary students. Each artwork must be entered as a separate ticket. All artworks must be installation-ready and must not contain offensive content.
Photo Credit: Pexels
Key Dates and Exhibition Venue
Entries close at 11:59 p.m. on 22 June 2025. Finalists—expected to number between 50 and 70—will be notified by 6 July. The exhibition will run from 18 to 26 July at the Hanly Room, located within St Stephen’s Cathedral precinct in Brisbane City.
An online platform, Salon des Refusés, will also display non-finalist works for public viewing and sale during the same period. All artworks entered must be for sale, with a 40 per cent commission applied to any sold items.
Engagement and Limitations
The organisers highlighted the importance of providing young people with an opportunity to enter public discourse through art. However, parish staff, council members, and their families are not eligible to enter. All decisions by the judging panel are final, with judging based equally on originality, technical proficiency, and thematic interpretation.
Artists are responsible for freight and insurance costs and must collect unsold works within one week of the exhibition’s end. Unclaimed artworks become the property of the organisers after one month.
Future Outlook
Through the Australian Christian Art Prize, Banyo’s parish not only raises funds for its centenary but also fosters a national platform for creative religious expression. The exhibition’s outcomes and public response may determine whether the prize continues in future years.
Published 8-June-2025
